September 15, 2011

My friend Ahna O'Reilly is perfect as Miss Elizabeth Leefolt in the film The Help. When Ahna originally told me that she had been cast in the role, I almost died with excitement. So when it came time to celebrate the movie, I was thrilled to get to make a party in its honor. While the obvious choice would've been a Mississippi themed spread, the whole cast was too spoiled by the real stuff while filming to compete. Instead, I made a Californian buffet with lady-like touches, served in a charming garden. I had fun with new versions of finger foods--e.g. blt tea sandwiches and savory cornmeal shortcake sliders with white cheddar, creme fraiche and chives-- and dainty individual desserts. Amy also kept the decor sweet and elegant with lush garlands, white lights & lanterns, and plenty of gorgeous flowers (after all, there were Southern women in attendance!). I couldn't be more proud of Ahna and think the party managed to hold a candle to her performance.

September 8, 2011

Our friend Ashley loves a picnic and so do we. For her 30th birthday party we created a picnic themed party on the roof of her apartment building. With no sand or itchy grass to distract us, we totally focused on the food & packaging. Each guest got their own picnic box to fill with whichever mains (fried quail--big hit!) and sides they preferred. There were plenty of options; I went a little nuts! This was the most collaborative party that Amy and I have ever done. Some of the menu items were inspired by her packaging ideas--for instance, fresh corn soup with jalapeno cornbread--while some of the dishes had Amy scrambling to find just the right container: e.g. the heirloom tomato shortcake with creme fraiche & basil. The final result: a delicious and eye-catching spread. It's my very favorite party that Amy has done because she elevated everything to such an impressive level. (She's a real whiz with paper products.) Be sure to check out the menu below...I forgot to take photos of all the great things that were inside of the boxes!

September 5, 2011

If I could blink my eyes and be transported to anywhere in the world, today, I'd pick Maine. I've never been, but my whole month has been leading up to my all-consuming desire to go. First, my friends, who go every August, left for their trip and I longed to tag along. To calm my jealousy, I read J. Courtney Sullivan's latest novel, Maine, about three generation of Irish Catholic women who summer at their family's cottage on the shore. Each time the ladies drove to a different town to lunch on lobster rolls and sample saltwater taffy, I'd resist an impulse purchase on kayak! Finally, taking action, I decided to make a Maine-inspired meal for a labor day weekend pool party. In researching Maine desserts, I stumbled upon a Travel and Leisure article ranking the top ten lobster shacks along Maine's coast. Pure torture! Each one looked more enticing than the last. (As it turns out, ice cream, pies and whoopie pies are all popular selections.) Until next year, I am using my imagination and taste buds for a weekend getaway. For the main event--the lobster roll--I went fairly purist, adding only diced celery, tarragon and mayonnaise to big hunks of steamed lobster. I baked the rolls using a recipe from Smitten Kitchen, shaping the dough into the shapes of hot dog buns. Before filling, I lightly buttered the inside of the buns and gave them a quick grill. It's pretty incredible that a meal, or even just a bite, can take us to another place; thankfully, my lobster roll did just that.

September 3, 2011

Crostini--"little toasts" in Italian--are my go to appetizer. They are the perfect base for showcasing simple ingredients and favorite flavor combinations. The seasons are about to change so I wanted to give summer's bounty a final hurray. Some of these are repeat offenders...I can never get enough of that fig jam, cheese & mint combo! To make crostini, slice a baguette 1/4" thick, brush with olive oil and baked on a cookie sheet @ 375 degrees for ten minutes, or until lightly brown. Top as desired.

About Me

I love making parties. Nothing makes me happier than creating a theme, planning a menu, running to the flower district, farmer's markets, tying up favors and serving guests. My husband Greg is the ideal cohost and bartender. I can get very caught up in the 'fuss' of it all. But as my mom always says, 'just order a pizza. people just want to be invited.' At the end of the day, Min is right, it's about bringing people together.